The Progressive Movement

AP U.S. History

Theodore Roosevelt and reforms

Restored presidency as a republican progressive reformer.1902

Created a bipartisan coalition of liberal reformers whose objective was to restrain corporate monopoly and promote economic competition.Promise of a “square deal”

Enforcement of the Sherman Anti-Trust ActMany states created honest and efficient political

and economic regulations.

Changes in Government

Primary elections Initiative and referendumRooting out political bossesElected officials for state and local governmentsRobert LaFollette, Charles Evans Hughes,

Woodrow Wilson.Significant state reformers

1904 ElectionRoosevelt promised to reform corporate flaws

but not interfere with monetary policy or tariffs.Democrats nominated Alton B. Parker

Endorsed trust busting and more regulatory agencies

Hepburn Act and Elkins Act (1906)Gave “teeth” to the Interstate Commerce Act of

1887Extended power over more industries

Pure Food and Drug Act (1906)Prohibited the manufacture, sale, and

transportation of bad food or fraudulent labeled food

Acts and Policies Cont.

Meat Inspection Act (1906)Federal inspections in meat packing facilities.

Conservation Laws1902-1908Create federal irrigation projects, national parks,

develop water power, establish National Conservation Commission.

Anti-Trust policiesRoosevelt ordered Justice department to bring

indictments against 25 monopoliesDepartment of Commerce and Labor

Address concerns of business and labor

Social and Cultural DevelopmentsProgressive Reforms

Series of reform causes designed to address specific social, economic, and political problems.

Middle-class wanted to correct wrong-doings, moderate reformers.

Honest government, economic regulation, environmental conservation, labor recognition, new political structures, end to child labor, prison reform, and many more!!!

Some also called for gender and racial equality.Muckrakers

Investigative journalists and authors.McClure's, Collier's , Cosmopolitan“The Shame of the Cities”-Steffens “History of the Standard Oil Company”-Tarbell

Politics of the PeriodElection of 1908

William H. Taft vs. William Jennings Bryan vs. Eugene Debs.

Taft wanted the continuation of trust-busting policies.

Taft unsuccessful in healing the rifts in the Republican party.

Ballinger-Pinchot Dispute (1909-1910)Progressives backed Pinchot, chief of U.S.

Forest Service, in his charge that conservative Secretary of the Interior, Ballinger, was giving away nation's resources to private corporate interests.

Politics Cont.

16th Amendment1909-graduated income tax

Mann-Elins ActExtended regulatory function of I.C.C. Over cable

and wireless companies, and telephone and telegraph lines. Begin own court proceedings, and suspend questionable rates.

Election of 1912Most dramatic in American History!!Progressive Party (Bull Moose)

Teddy Roosevelt- “New Nationalism”Called for Federal Trade Commission

Wilson and the Progressive Movement

1913: reduction of tariff, reform of banks and currency laws, improvements in anti-trust laws.

Underwood-Simmons Tariff Act of 1913Average rates reduced, included graduated

income taxFederal Reserve Act of 1913

Stability in banking and currency supplyClayton Antitrust Act of 1914

Strengthened Sherman Anti-trust ActFederal Trade Commission Act of 1914

Prohibit unfair trade

New Nationalism

Progressive Party dissolved after 1912Federal Farm Loan Act of 1916

Farm mortgage loans at reasonable ratesChild Labor Act of 1916

Regulated labor forceAdamson Act of 1916

Mandated 8 hour work day-railroadsKerr-McGillicuddy Act of 1916

Workmen's comp

Election of 1916

Wilson: continued progressive reforms and neutrality in European affairs. “He kept us out of war.”

Charles Evans Hughes-difficult to tackle neutrality issue

Wilson popularity increased significantly: former progressives and socialists.

Social Issues

Segregation in government agenciesW.E.B. DuBoisWilliam Trotter-led protest delegation to D.C.Wilson viewed as not sensitive to African

American rightsNational American Woman Suffrage Association

Wilson said suffrage should be controlled by states-later changes view and supports 19th.

ImmigrationWilson opposed immigration restrictionsVetoed literacy test (1917 overrode by Congress)